GAELIC GAMES NEWS ROUND-UP:AS WAS widely expected, the opening rounds of the GAA season has been scrapped with floodlit grounds ensuring some midweek action, weather permitting of course, for Munster football.

Leinster and Ulster kept it simple yesterday by putting their O’Byrne Cup and McKenna Cup opening fixtures back seven days but the preliminary round of the McGrath Cup gets under way on Thursday with night games in Thurles, Tralee and Limerick.

With another belt of treacherous weather blowing in, a sense of helplessness has descended across many field sports as surfaces are unable to cope with the sub-zero temperatures. Croke Park is the only GAA pitch with under-soil heating.

“There is nothing we can do,” admitted GAA director general Páraic Duffy yesterday. “It doesn’t look good in the short term. It is a matter for the provincial councils to reschedule their provincial competitions and for us to look after club championships. The games scheduled for this weekend won’t go ahead. They will be rescheduled in two weeks’ time.”

The AIB All-Ireland junior club quarter-finals have been cancelled with Dunedin Connollys from Scotland and Emyvale, Co Monaghan, initially set for Newry on Sunday, and the Black and Whites from Kilkenny and John Mitchells of Warwickshire, initially on Saturday, to take place “in due course” as travelling is not currently feasible.

“Even if you get pitches playable it is dangerous to ask supporters to travel. We have no choice but to call them off,” Duffy continued. “We probably could get a pitch for that Scottish team and Emyvale but the problem is making people travel at the moment is too dangerous. It will cause a problem if this goes on but hopefully it will improve.”

The main concern now is the pre-season competitions will have to be played in a shortened period, with the possibility of two games per week, but Duffy is confident financial losses will not be significant. “Not in terms of gate receipts but in terms of flights, accommodation and so on being booked. But we have no choice in the matter so it is a case of grin and bear it.”

Duffy was also queried on the dispute in Limerick between hurling manager Justin McCarthy, recently supported by the county board and club delegates, and a large majority of the 2009 panel. McCarthy discarded 10 players before Christmas, without contacting them, including veteran Mark Foley, former captain Niall Moran and Mike O’Brien, prompting another 12 to leave the panel while three more, including Ollie Moran, made themselves unavailable.

GAA president Christy Cooney recently stated the association may become involved if mediation attempts within the county fail. McCarthy appears determined to carry on after club delegates voted 70 to 54 for his retention. A two-thirds majority was required to oust the Cork man, who stepped down as Waterford manager in 2008 after a player revolt.

Duffy was asked if Croke Park is willing to intervene as they did in the Cork strike last year. “There has been brief discussion. For the moment it has been left with Limerick. There has been some discussion. Christy spoke with Limerick county board officials earlier this week. In terms of getting involved, no. It is something we are reluctant to do. I think Limerick know our views. We would like to have it settled and settled very quickly. At the moment we are not getting involved . . . unless there is a request made.”

The GAA executive, however, may be left with no alternative if the Limerick hurlers refuse to return under McCarthy ahead of the National League. “We don’t want to go into the situation again where counties are fielding a weakened team,” said Duffy. “That doesn’t help the counties. At the moment we are only early January and over a month away from the start of the National League so for the moment we will leave it with Limerick and see how it develops.”

FIXTURES:Thursday, January 14th – McGrath Cup preliminary round Tipperary v University of Limerick, Dr Morris Park, Thurles, 7.30pm; Kerry v IT Tralee, Austin Stack Park, Tralee, 7.30pm; Limerick v Waterford IT, Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, 7.30